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GC Rafting
The ultimate river trip—225 miles through the heart of the Grand Canyon, past bi...
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First-Come, First-ServedRiver AccessHigh Demand
Ruby-Horsethief Canyon Permit
25 miles of red rock flatwater on the Colorado River from Loma, Colorado to Westwater, Utah. Quota is the campsites, so you build the trip site by site.
Watch your whole route— one camp per night, in order
Ruby-Horsethief Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodFirst-Come, First-Served
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Cost$6 reservation fee, plus $20 to $100 per night by group size from April through October
Max Group Size25 people
Ruby-Horsethief Permit Facts
- As of August 2026, Ruby-Horsethief in Colorado Plateau Rivers, Wild & Scenic Rivers requires a permit issued via first-come, first-served.
- Ruby-Horsethief is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Ruby-Horsethief route covers 25 miles with rated easy.
- Cancelled Ruby-Horsethief permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeRiver Access
Booking MethodFirst-Come, First-Served
Demand Level7/10
LocationMcInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
25 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
2-3 days
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •Mostly flatwater with Class I and II sections across 25 miles
- •Named campsites you reserve in advance rather than pick on the water
- •Black Rocks, where BLM dates the Vishnu schist to about 1.7 billion years
- •Motorized boats sharing the water, which is legal on this stretch
- •Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, great blue herons and desert bighorn
- •Strong afternoon headwinds from Black Rocks to Westwater, especially in spring
Best Time to Visit
BLM calls fall the most consistent weather, with warm days, cool nights and infrequent rain. Family raft trips go best once flows drop below 5,000 cfs.
Hazards & Considerations
- !No take-outs before Westwater, which BLM says makes rescues long and cumbersome
- !Spotty to non-existent cell service
- !Extra care above 30,000 cfs, canoes not recommended until flows drop below 20,000 cfs per BLM
- !Spring weather that swings from hot to snow to cold rain
- !Very little shade in summer
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
When to Go
Peak: Summer monthsShoulder: Spring and Fall
Conditions
Summer offers the most reliable conditions for most wilderness areas.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Longest days
- +Warmest temperatures
- +Reliable trail conditions
Challenges
- !Peak demand for permits
- !Book accommodations early
- !Weather varies
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended Experience
Multi-day backpacking or river experience recommended.
About This Permit
Ruby-Horsethief is the easy-water canyon above Westwater, 25 miles of mostly flatwater with a few Class I and II riffles. It is the trip people bring canoes and families on, and the Black Rocks section exposes the same 1.7-billion-year-old Vishnu schist you see in parts of the Grand Canyon.
BLM sets the quota by campsite rather than by launch, so one group can hold one campsite per night. There are 34 named sites on Recreation.gov, and you assemble your itinerary out of them when you book. Some sites carry a smaller group limit than the 25-person cap because the camp itself is small.
Reservations open on a two-month daily rolling window at 8 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, and you can only hold one active reservation at a time. Day use needs no permit at all.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Ruby-Horsethief offers a multi-day journey through some of America's most remote wilderness. River permits protect both the resource and the experience, ensuring uncrowded campsites and pristine conditions.
Rules & Regulations
- •Quota is the campsites: one group per campsite per night
- •Maximum 25 people per group including dogs, with a strict limit of two dogs
- •Some campsites carry a smaller group limit than 25 because of camp size
- •Reservations open two months ahead on a daily rolling window at 8 a.m. MDT
- •One active reservation at a time, though you can hold multiple permits over a year
- •Black Rocks sites are limited to one night on Friday and Saturday, with no layovers
- •Print the permit 7 days before launch
- •You must camp at your assigned site, and BLM warns not to book a later night upstream of an earlier one
- •No permit is required for day use in Ruby-Horsethief
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Ruby-Horsethief
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Ruby-Horsethief FAQ
How does the Ruby-Horsethief permit quota work?
The quota is the number of campsites. Each campsite takes one group per night, so you build a multi-night itinerary by reserving a site for each night rather than a single launch slot.
Do I need a Ruby-Horsethief permit for a day trip?
No. BLM requires the permit for overnight camping only. Day use in Ruby-Horsethief needs no permit.
When do Ruby-Horsethief permits open?
Two months ahead on a daily rolling window, at 8 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time. You may only hold one active reservation at a time.
Can I bring dogs on a Ruby-Horsethief permit?
Yes, up to two. Dogs count toward the 25-person group total and are charged the same as adults over 16.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
Questions
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Canyon walls glow during sunset. Position your camp for the best evening light angles.
Best Light
Midday can work in deep canyons where direct light penetrates. Morning offers reflections on calm water.
Beat the Crowds
River trips have built-in crowd control via permits. Focus on timing with natural light.
Classic Shots
- 📍Boat perspective through rapids
- 📍Canyon wall reflections
- 📍Camp setup on river beach
- 📍Wildlife along the shore
Can't Get a Ruby-Horsethief Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Westwater Canyon
Similar ExperienceThe whitewater continuation, 17 miles from the Westwater ramp with 11 named rapids.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Class IV water and a five-permit daily cap. Many groups run both back to back.
Canyonlands Overnight River
Similar ExperienceFlatwater on the Green or Colorado above the confluence, inside Canyonlands National Park.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No daily launch limit, but non-motorized flatwater trips must book a commercial upriver shuttle first.
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